Langford archery team wins national 4-H title

July 07, 2007|By South Dakota 4-H

Chris Wegleitner, Ethan Cole, and Spencer Hatzenbeller, all of Langford, teamed up with Danny Norby of Madison to bring a national archery championship back to South Dakota at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational. The event was held in Rapid City June 26-28. South Dakota State University extension youth development/4-H specialist Kathryn Reeves said the South Dakota 4-H archery team placed first in field competition, third in 3-D shooting, and first in FITA to outshoot both Montana and Mississippi for the title. Additionally, Wegleitner won the bronze medal for individual effort, and Cole placed eighth. All four team members had a top 10 placing during the week. In field competition, Cole was seventh, Wegleitner eighth and Norby 10th. Cole placed sixth in 3-D shooting and Wegleitner was first in FITA, followed by Hatzenbeller in sixth. Other South Dakota place-winners were:

Cory Slunecka of Faulkton finished fifth overall in the .22 Pistol division. He finished sixth in Bullseye, seventh in the Camp Perry Round, and fourth in Silhouettes. He joined teammates Mandi Petersen of White, Jeremy Noem of Lake Norden, and Chad Selchert of Hazel for a bronze medal in the Bullseye competition.

In Air Pistol, Dylan Eckman of Bruce had a sixth place in the Bullseye competition and eighth place in Silhouettes.

Nina Martinez of Custer placed 10th in the Camp Perry Round.

Dempster Christenson of Sioux Falls and Caitlin Forman of Pierre, paced the Air Rifle team to a fourth place finish overall. Collin Burrer and Dawn Beck, both of Pierre, completed the team that garnered bronze team medals in the 3 Position and Standing competitions. Additionally, Christenson placed third in 3 Position and first in Standing, while Forman earned a 10th place in 3 Position and fifth in Standing. Forman finished in seventh place overall.

Travis Stevens of Miller earned a sixth place in Skeet, and garnered enough points throughout the week to earn a bronze medal overall. Colin Taylor of Estelline placed 10th in Sporting Clays. At the International BB Gun Championship held in Bowling Green, Ken., June 29-July 1, South Dakota 4-H BB Gun teams placed second, sixth, 13th and 14th. The silver medalist team from Pierre consisted of Bailie Garber, Amanda Erickson, Brittney Kirkpatrick, Jake Trautman and Dacey Beck. The sixth place team from Britton consisted of Paige Gaikowski, Ethan Stenvold, Lindsey Amerman, Kelsy Bruley and Raymond Freeman. Both Freeman and Trautman were ranked in the top 10 individual shooters. The Humboldt Team placed 13th, while the Parkston 4-H Team placed 14th.